Posts tagged Omni-Wick
Buzz: Putting Columbia Gear To The Test
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Last week I received some paperwork from Columbia Sportswear for my trip to Sedona. The first thing I thought was, “Weeee! So excited. Only a few months away…” and then I realized, “No, it’s next month! Whoa!” I just got back from Italy and it’s already time to gear up, literally, for some adventures in Sedona.
Being a member of the Omniten is pretty cool. I now have a new network of friends and am looking forward to finally meeting them. Out of everyone I am probably the least experienced, but I’m okay with that. My outdoor life consists of running, swimming, biking, nature hikes, and exploring wherever we go. No mountain climbing or “extreme” sports for me, as you know the last time I skied was well over 15 yrs ago when I broke my leg. (I’m still waiting to complete my challenge!) The great thing about Columbia is it’s not just for mountain climbers, etc. Everyday people use it and love it. That’s where I come in. But being the least outdoorsy I must say I’m a bit intimidated but if anyone knows me, they know I’m all for adventures and trying new stuff.
With my excitement of my upcoming trip next month I wanted to share with you my thoughts on a few products they sent me over the past couple months. For those that are interested I’ve already introduced several of the products in this blog post.
Let’s talk about the Powerdrains. 
The point of Powerdrains is to provide an “amphibious” shoe that’s versatile from water to land. When immersed in water they immediately drain so you don’t have wet soggy shoes.
Check out these holey insoles.
Yeah, those aren’t messing around. And even though they’re holey, they provide cushion just like regular insoles. I dig how they lace up with a bungee cord making them super easy to slip on and off. (I’m wishing all of my shoes had this!)
Wow. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes. So light and comfy. When I say they’re probably one of the most comfy shoes I’ve ever owned I’m not joking. They’re definitely up there with my Mizunos. I decided to take them to Italy on a whim and it wasn’t a mistake. Since I was recovering from my ankle issue I was concerned with stability and comfort during our trip and these delivered the goods. They were flexible enough that my foot could mold to the ground, yet they provided plenty of protection. They also had excellent grip on the slick bricks that are used to pave the streets of Rome and Florence.
I debated on whether to wear these this past weekend for the Dirty Girl Mud Run (more on that later this week!) but didn’t want to ruin them. But, I went ahead and put these shoes through the wringer and they did fantastic. The holes allowed the shoes to quickly drain and so I wasn’t wearing soggy shoes.
The Powerdrains washed up fantastic and you can’t even tell I trudged through multiple mud pits with them.
All around I was impressed by the performance of the Powerdrains. Columbia hit the nail on the head with these shoes.
Next is the Compounder Shell.
This sucker is basically a raincoat on steroids. When I first felt the fabric I thought, “This is pretty thin. How is this going to work?” But it does and it’s amazingly durable and breathable too. No feeling like you’re wearing a plastic bag that traps in all of your sweat.
I took this to Italy too but didn’t have the chance to use it. Wouldn’t you know that the times it rained I didn’t have on my Compounder Shell OR Powerdrains. Ha!
Even though I didn’t get to wear it in Italy I was able to do some heavy duty testing while spectating at Tough Mudder Ohio several weeks ago. It was pouring rain while I spectated for about 3 solid hours and I was kept dry.
I got a kick out of how the rain would actual bead up on the surface of the shell like a freshly waxed car. The massive hood helped with protection too.
I still need to share with you my thoughts on my newest pair of shoes, the Peakfreak Low Outdry. I’ve tried them out, but I’d like to test them out on more rugged terrain before I give you my thoughts. Stay tuned!
Yes, I’m part of the Columbia Omniten and am lucky enough to receive gear, but I’ve truly put this gear to the test and the thoughts I’ve presented are my own.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Buzz: Does Columbia Make More Than Ski Jackets? Yes!
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Welcome to my first week of “Buzz”. Today I thought I’d share my thoughts on one of the products I received from Columbia Sportswear.
It has been unseasonably warm here in Ohio over the past few weeks. I’ve been able to run in shorts, tees, and tanks. You’re not hearing any complaints from me. With the gorgeous weather I took advantage of the moment to test out my Columbia Solar Polar Short Sleeve Top. Yep, this is the shirt I received with my welcome package to #OmniTen.
Let’s start with the basics:
-Fabric: 91% polyester/9% elastane Freezer Ice jersey, 100% polyester pointelle mesh, 86% polyester/14% elastane Flex Stretch woven
-Omni-Freeze ICE advanced cooling
-Omni-Shade® UPF 50 sun protection
-Omni-Wick®
-Vented
-Reflective detail
-Antimicrobial
In other words, it wicks the sweat from your body and the fabric helps to keep you cool. On top of that it protects you from UV rays, has extra ventilation, and stays “clean”.
I love the color combination and how it flares just a bit at the bottom. The extra length is always appreciated and the Columbia logo on the back not only looks cool but also serves as ventilation.
Personally I probably would’ve gone down a size to make the fit a bit tighter, since that’s how I like to wear my running gear. With that being said, the fit wasn’t a huge issue by any means.
I put it through the test on a mild low-70s morning of sunshine. Not the hottest or best day to test out the Omni-Freeze ICE technology. It was hard to tell if it “cooled” me but I do have to say I was definitely comfortable and not over-heated as the outdoor temperature or my body temperature rose. I will definitely be wearing it more in the future and testing it in more extreme conditions. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and I’ll let you know how it goes!
Be sure to head over to my Facebook Page and let me know what sort of things you’d like hear me “Buzz” about.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
What Is #Omniten?
14March 13, 2012
March 13, 2012 If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you may have noticed that last week I announced I was chosen to be a member of the #Omniten. 
Several weeks ago I was contacted by Columbia to see if I’d be interested in becoming a member of #Omniten. I said, ”YES!” and patiently waited to see what would happen next. Then last week I came home to find this package full o’ fun stuff at my back door!
So what exactly is the #Omniten? Columbia has chosen a group of ten individuals who they find are particularly influential in the outdoor world and social media platforms. It is no secret that I, along with the rest of my family, LOVE Columbia products. Just the other week D and I went out to dinner with my parents and I had to chuckle since not only was I wearing Columbia but I looked across at my parents to find they too were wearing Columbia. This is quite a common occurrence with us.
A little dark, but we’re all wearing Columbia
As a member of the inaugural #Omniten team I get early access to new technologies and gear. I’ll even have the chance to test out the gear, in their words, epic locations. For instance, just last week I passed on the opportunity to go heli-skiing in Alaska. Yes, I know, most people would kill for the opportunity. My realistic mind said no thanks this time around. Give me a break! I’ve broken my femur skiing. Although I’ve been out skiing since,and would kill for the opportunity to go out west, I think heli-skiing wouldn’t be the safest option for me at this time 
Trust me, I’ll have other opportunities coming my way. 
Everyone keeps asking, how did you get chosen for this? To be quite honest, I did nothing special. I love Columbia products and I talk about them, obviously a lot, and they took notice.
Since I’ll be testing out gear I’ll get to provide feedback not only to Columbia but you too. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook, Columbia on Twitter and Facebook, and #Omniten on Twitter to to follow our epic adventures as we put Columbia gear to the test.
My initial box of goodies. Stay tuned for my thoughts on what recently arrived!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
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Want to read more about my Columbia #Omniten Adventures?
I Love It When Products Deliver
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I had absolutely no plans on blogging or doing a video today, but plans change. I went out for my long run of the week today…7 miles. Wait, make that 7 WINDY miles. 24mph winds. Yikes. It was 35 degrees but that wind was wicked. Thankfully I have found some products that not only deliver, but they repeatedly do so. Sometimes I don’t know how I’d do it without them and am truly grateful for them. Also, it’s always fun to try something new and fall in love with it. Just had to share.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Does Omni-Heat Really Work?
10January 4, 2012
in Reviews
Well over a month ago I surprisingly won a Twitter contest from Sportswear. Winter has finally arrived and I thought I’d try out my new products! I received a Women’s Lush Plush Jacket, Men’s Hexaholic Down Jackets, and a Women’s Midweight Baselayer top and bottom. Today I’ll review the Baselayer and will do a review on the jackets soon.
Please note: Although I received “free” products, Columbia did not require nor request reviews or feedback from me. I just thought I’d pass along information about my experience with the products.
The Baselayer pieces arrived separately in these plastic tube-like boxes. Although I’m not a huge fan of packaging things in plastic due to the effects it has on the Earth, these boxes are pretty cool. I have no idea what I will do with them, but I foresee them having a second use around my home. I can hope others will have the same idea. With that being said, while checking out my local Dick’s Sporting Goods I saw that their offered Baselayers weren’t in boxes, but hanging up on hangers. I’m unsure what the usual packaging is for this product.
The Baselayers have Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective technology. They claim this helps to regulate your body temperature, by using the metallic dots on the inside of the cloth, to reflect your created heat back to you. It supposedly makes you 20% warmer than a baselayer without the technology. It also has Omni-wick technology that wicks away the moisture to keep you dry during activity. Most all active gear has some sort of this technology and I see it almost as a requirement nowadays. Here’s the inside of the bottoms.
Immediately upon touching the fabric and sliding the tights on I fell in love with the fabric. So soft and smooth…dare I say buttery? It’s kind of hard to explain. I actually had a minor freak out moment, “Is there silk in these??” (Being a vegan I do not wear silk.) But the tag quickly put me at ease: 86% polyester/14% elastane. Whew! I was so comfy I could see myself wearing these at pajamas. The fit was formfitting but not too tight and they didn’t fit me oddly like so many baselayers do (too tight in the calves and huge around the waist.) The top is extra long, which I see as a good thing. Better to cover the bum or remain tucked in, depending on what way you like to wear it. The waist band has kind of a fluffy/plush feel to it, which provides comfort. Lastly, Columbia also uses flat-lock stitching on both pieces. This minimizes friction with the skin = little to no chafing. Win! According to the box each piece costs $60.00. Upon further review I see that they also have solid colors that cost $55.00 or the heavyweight for $65.00
My parents added to my Columbia Omni-Heat collection for Christmas by giving me the Hit The Trail Gloves. I’ve been in search of some running gloves other than my typical stretch knit gloves. The gloves also have the Omni-Heat technology along with Omni-Shield (resists light rain and stains). They are thinner, not bulky at all, and retail for $30.00
Here’s a picture with one glove inside-out.
So how did these products do in action?? Check out the video to find out!
